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Michel De Montaigne, a fifteenth century French essayist once said that, The perpetual work of your life is but to lay the foundation of death. (21 st Century Dictionary of Quotation, 1993) In The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri conveys the concept that actions throughout life determine the quality of the afterlife. In various instances throughout his work, Dante shows the correlation between actions on Earth and the nature of eternal life. He views life on Earth as a long struggle where the worthiness of Heaven is established. He believes that the path to eternal happiness is not direct, and must be adequately proportioned with suffering.
The true nature of the soul is conveyed through anguish. The struggle of spirit that Dante undergoes when entering Hell mirrors the trials that humanity faces. The author conveys that in order to persevere through hardship, the nature of evil must be learned and refused. By using Virgil as a representation of reason, Alighieri shows that in order to face evil, morality and intellect are required. As Virgil leads Dante into Hell, he says, Here you must put by all division of spirit and gather your soul against all cowardice. This is the place I told you to expect.
Here you shall pass among the fallen people, souls who have lost the good of intellect. (14 - 18) With the help of reason, Dante is able to face evil. The author shows that in order to conquer evil, reason, bravery and intellect are required. As he is lead through the Dark Wood of Errors, Dante realizes the circumstances by which souls make their descents into Hell. The manner in which people live their lives determines the state of their eternal existence. Dante sees the soulless people waiting on the shore of a beach, waiting to be taken to eternal suffering. Virgil relates to Dante, in regards to these creatures, all together they drew to that grim shore where all must come who lose the fear of God.
Weeping and cursing they come forevermore (103 - 105) Losing the fear of God is the primary cause of the pursuit of evil ways. Fear of God redeems the soul and guides each person past evil. When favor with God is lost and not recovered, punishment is given accordingly. Virgil explains to Dante, all who die in the shadow of Gods wrath converge to this form every clime and country. (199 - 120) When the fear of God is lost, His wrath unfolds. Souls that are not fully rooted in the pursuit of evil also undergo punishment in the afterlife. They lose their souls after living a life that is both hateful to God and Satan.
Their lives have been without purpose, and their punishment corresponds to their actions. Virgil explains the fate of the soulless to his follower, They have no hope of death their miserable lives have sunk so low that they must envy every other fate. No word of them survives their living season. Mercy and Justice deny them even a name. (42 - 47) The soulless have nothing for which to hope.
Their suffering cannot be ceased by death. They must reside in Hell, in anguish, with the knowledge that no one on Earth misses their presence. Another crucial belief of the author is the inability to understand the purpose of various occurrences. He shows that the extent of Gods wisdom is beyond the intellectual scope of his creations. Virgil explains to Charon, upon his command that Dante leave the inferno, Charon, bite back your spleen: this has been willed where what is willed must be, and is not yours to ask what it means. (91 - 93) The need to face evil is inconceivable by Gods creations. Gods will must not be questioned.
It is crucial to face the trials that bring eternal life with Him. Dante Alighieri shows throughout his work the direct connection between life on Earth and life after death. He also puts forth concepts that are fundamental to the beliefs of the Christian Church.
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Research essay sample on Life On Earth Dante Alighieri
